International Day of Peace: How Lagos subdued jungle justice

Lagos State Government

The establishment of Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC) to provide access to justice to the indigent people has stabilize peace and eradicate jungle justice in Lagos in the last eight years.

The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said this as the government joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day of Peace on Tuesday.

The governor called for global peace and cessation of hostilities among warring groups, urging them to down their weapons and embrace the principles of peaceful coexistence.

Ambode, who was represented at this year's celebrations by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami disclosed that the State had established the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC) to initiate peace through mediation and provide access to justice to the indigents of the state. Ambode maintained that the non-adversarial resolution of disputes by CMC has assisted in maintaining relationships among disputing parties and prevents the citizenry from resorting to jungle justice or other forms of impunities, stressing that residents must further embrace the process of mediation as it has become globally acceptable.

In his speech the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon who was represented by the Director of the United Nations Information Centre, Mr. Ronald Kyanga explained that the option of peace is a collective responsibility to put an end to brutality and impunity.

Ban Ki-Moon therefore pleaded with all warring nations to lay down their weapons and observe a global ceasefire to create a space for lasting peace. While noting that the youths are mostly affected by hostilities, the UN Scribe urged all governments to make greater investments in realizing the potential and massive contributions of the world's young peace builders by saving generations from the scourge of war.

The highlight of the 2015 International Day of Peace themed, “Partnership for Peace - Dignity for All”, was the Walk for Peace and Free Legal Clinic organized by the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC) at Ikeja and Badagry simultaneously.